International Shopping for Pipes

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

I'm a novice and want to get into Pipe Smoking with corn cob pipes. I surfed smokingpipes.com and ended up with 2 Missouri Prides.

The shipping smokingpipes.com providing which's under my budget is Super Saver International (cheapest) and First Class Mail (with limited tracking)

Is Super Saver (without tracking) would be a good option to India? I hope the package won't get lost in transit!

The customer support did assured me that there won't be any problems. I just wanted to know designated pipe smokers here in forum residing overseas about their experiences..

 

[newbroom]

I have no experience with your question, but I applaud your choice of Missouri Meerschaums.
The Pride is about as good as it gets, just start them out slowly to establish an inner hardening as the 'natural' or unfinished cob can burn out if pushed during break in. ( I did that with one or two other, smaller, unfinished cobs)

 

[Casual]

I get most of my packages to Canada from SP.com’s Super Saver International. Tens of packages by now. Takes 2-3 weeks, no tracking, delivered by Canada post. I have never had a lost package yet. Reliable and inexpensive. You just need to forget about it until it appears in your mailbox.

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

I have no experience with your question, but I applaud your choice of Missouri Meerschaums.
The Pride is about as good as it gets, just start them out slowly to establish an inner hardening as the 'natural' or unfinished cob can burn out if pushed during break in. ( I did that with one or two other, smaller, unfinished cobs)

Thank you so much newbroom..
Really appreciate your kind words..
I'll keep in mind your advice when I'll lit my very first bowl!

Happy Piping!

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

I get most of my packages to Canada from SP.com’s Super Saver International. Tens of packages by now. Takes 2-3 weeks, no tracking, delivered by Canada post. I have never had a lost package yet. Reliable and inexpensive. You just need to forget about it until it appears in your mailbox.

Haha! That's the great idea to ponder upon.. keeping calm is really necessary while waiting for an untracked package!
Hoping I'll receive it soon from States!
Thank you Casual!
Happy Piping

 

[gervais]

I get most of my packages to Canada from SP.com’s Super Saver International. Tens of packages by now. Takes 2-3 weeks, no tracking, delivered by Canada post. I have never had a lost package yet. Reliable and inexpensive. You just need to forget about it until it appears in your mailbox.

Ever get "Dinged" coming across?

 

[mikethompson]

Shipping from the US to Canada is one thing, the US to India is quite another. But SP is pretty good about packing things securely. I wouldn't worry about it, but it may take a while to get to you.

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

Shipping from the US to Canada is one thing, the US to India is quite another. But SP is pretty good about packing things securely. I wouldn't worry about it, but it may take a while to get to you.

Yes mikethompson, the distance between States and India is great enough. And even if the package gets in time.. Indian Customs are world famous to do further proceedings in their own leisure. Which generally takes upto 1-1.5 weeks.
Hoping the shipping to show up soon, sound and safe!

Happy Piping

 

[peregrinus]

I just wanted to know designated pipe smokers here in forum residing overseas about their experiences..

SP is a good company and will get things started off correctly.
I have had some experience sending items to India and have had no problems.
I have had more experience ordering items from India. An example would be tea from Darjeeling. I have had no problems in doing so and have found the exchange between India and US postal systems to be efficient. I think there is a great deal of merchandise moving back and forth!

As an aside, I have visited India several times for work but never shopped for tobacco while there. How is tobacco availability in India? What blends are you finding in the shops?

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

SP is a good company and will get things started off correctly.
I have had some experience sending items to India and have had no problems.
I have had more experience ordering items from India. An example would be tea from Darjeeling. I have had no problems in doing so and have found the exchange between India and US postal systems to be efficient. I think there is a great deal of merchandise moving back and forth!

As an aside, I have visited India several times for work but never shopped for tobacco while there. How is tobacco availability in India? What blends are you finding in the shops?

peregrinus, smokingpipes.com officials did assured me that they'll make sure that package to me gets delivered sound and safe within 3-5 week period under Super Saver International.
Yes, Darjeeling is in North Eastern part of India in state of West Bangal and is known for Tea Estates offering finest quality of Tea to India and overseas alike.

Trade between States and India is flourishing and hope it will get even more stronger in coming years. And hoping postal services from both ends will serve the best.

Tobacco is a big issue especially for Pipes in India. Import duties are very very high and importing for personal use can cause duties of upto 300 percent!
Pipe Smokers in India are handful if compared with total population but they did kept the hobby still ongoing with full enthusiasm.

I generally found Mac Barens (7 seas, Amphora, Vanilla Cream), Borkum Riffs, Davidoffs, Dan Tobacco Blends, Captain Blacks, and Erinmores. These are available from retailers based in Delhi and Mumbai.

Majority of them are otc's but will suffice my needs for now!

I hope the hobby I'm getting into would serve me a fair justice.

Happy International Pipe Smoking Day 2020!

Happy Piping..

 

[cshubhra]

Indian Tobacco Company sold Capstan Blue, Capstan Gold (Under the name Gold Flake) and a Red Va based tobacco (Van Gogh) - That was 20+ years ago, when I briefly smoked a pipe for a few months during my college days. I found a pouch inside one of my college books

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

Indian Tobacco Company sold Capstan Blue, Capstan Gold (Under the name Gold Flake) and a Red Va based tobacco (Van Gogh) - That was 20+ years ago, when I briefly smoked a pipe for a few months during my college days. I found a pouch inside one of my college books

View attachment 20079

cshubhra, wow! An ITC based blend! I don't know why ITC totally switched to cigarettes production and now they don't manufacture any such tobacco solely for Pipe Smokers.
In my hometown Nainital, the local tobacconist manufacture and process natural tobacco for pipe smokers and sell Rs 10/pouch for a non aromatic blend. I will try that out too!
I did found some good otc's and German based brand called Dan Tobacco blends with Tobacco House New Delhi.
As soon as I'll receive the cobs I'll certainly try the available blends with them.
I hope you are still into pipe smoking and smoking out the finest in a fine pipe this International Pipe Smoking Day 2020.

Best Wishes.
Happy Piping..

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

@Dr_Harshit_Joshi Harshit, Packages via UPS Super Saver will come, sooner or later,no one went lost

 

[davidsaulmarshall]

Times really vary for International Super Saver packages. I had several packages delivered to me in Hong Kong that took only a week and a half to arrive, but another that was delivered to Singapore more than a month after I ordered it. Just be prepared to wait.

Additionally, if you order tobacco from the States at a later date, I would recommend foregoing SmokingPipes as an option and opting for 4Noggins. The latter is particularly adept at getting packages by customs unnoticed, whilst the former is fairly obvious to officials.

 

[cshubhra]

I picked up the pipe again in 2017, smoked for a few months, paused, picked up again in 2019. Overall, I have been enjoying a pipe for a continuous span of one year.

The ITC pipe tobacco were good then, and affordable to college students. Too bad they stopped selling pipe tobacco. I did not know that!
I like German tobaccos- Very happy with Reiner Long Golden Flake (Gold Blend No 71). I have purchased a huge HU tobacco sampler recently and enjoying them so far. I also have Dan tobacco in my radar, and although not smoked any yet, I have a couple of tins of Old Ironsides in my cellar. Otherwise, I enjoy Dunhill (Now Peterson), Smokers Haven, Gawith Hoggarth & Co, Esoterica, and C&D Burley based tobacco.
Don’t smoke aromatics much, but occasionally I would have a bowl of aromatics as well.

I am not much aware of the pipe tobacco availability in India, but these kind of posts excite me.

I hope you are still into pipe smoking and smoking out the finest in a fine pipe this International Pipe Smoking Day 2020.

Best Wishes.
Happy Piping..

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

@Dr_Harshit_Joshi Harshit, Packages via UPS Super Saver will come, sooner or later,no one went lost

paulie66scandinavian, thank you for the information.

Happy International Pipe Smoking Day 2020

Happy Piping..

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

Times really vary for International Super Saver packages. I had several packages delivered to me in Hong Kong that took only a week and a half to arrive, but another that was delivered to Singapore more than a month after I ordered it. Just be prepared to wait.

Additionally, if you order tobacco from the States at a later date, I would recommend foregoing SmokingPipes as an option and opting for 4Noggins. The latter is particularly adept at getting packages by customs unnoticed, whilst the former is fairly obvious to officials.

davidsaulmarshall, thank you for sharing your experience.

And yes SP very strictly clears up that they won't hide real info about the package contents.
And yeah.. SP name itself might easily attract custom eyes.. and thank you for sharing me about 4noggins.

Happy International Pipe Smoking Day 2020.

Happy Piping!

 

[BROBS]

davidsaulmarshall, thank you for sharing your experience.

And yes SP very strictly clears up that they won't hide real info about the package contents.
And yeah.. SP name itself might easily attract custom eyes.. and thank you for sharing me about 4noggins.

Happy International Pipe Smoking Day 2020.

Happy Piping!

It will say "Laudisi Enterprises" so not smokingpipes.com

Also, would ordering from smokingpipes.eu be faster or easier to India?

 

[danimalia]

cshubhra, wow! An ITC based blend! I don't know why ITC totally switched to cigarettes production and now they don't manufacture any such tobacco solely for Pipe Smokers.
In my hometown Nainital, the local tobacconist manufacture and process natural tobacco for pipe smokers and sell Rs 10/pouch for a non aromatic blend. I will try that out too!
I did found some good otc's and German based brand called Dan Tobacco blends with Tobacco House New Delhi.
As soon as I'll receive the cobs I'll certainly try the available blends with them.
I hope you are still into pipe smoking and smoking out the finest in a fine pipe this International Pipe Smoking Day 2020.

Best Wishes.
Happy Piping..

If you hadn't checked them out yet, Dan Tobacco makes many wonderful blends across many different styles. And no, I am not just saying that out of solidarity for a fellow Dan.

 

[Sonorisis]

I don't know anything about the postal service in India. But, I can tell you I've had outstanding service from the international sellers who advertise on this site!